The effect of the potential rail strike on Amtrak

[Manny T]

Here is Metra's news release regarding the potential impact of the strike on its lines -- some it can operate, some it can't, and some it's "in discussions" about: Message to Customers | Metra

 

[amy1277]

For those of you in the know regarding various freight rails, lines, services:
I assume it’s safe to say the Silver Star would be affected by any strike that would occur? Guessing that route is not entirely Amtrak-run?
I’m taking a wait-it-out approach with my current trip booked on the 16th. But I’ve also booked a backup flight and hotel just to be safe. I realize nobody knows for sure, just trying to have some idea of what to expect.

 

[Amtrak25]

RoW is not Amtrak's south of DC. I think it safe to assume there will be no Silver Star. IMHO, not starting a rumor !, it will be cancelled as of Wednesday-south / Thursday-north if the western trans-cons are any example.

 

[Amtrak25]

Amtrak Advisory | Freight Railroad Labor Negotiations – Possible Impacts to Select Amtrak Service

For some reason, the Downeaster route to Brunswick, ME will not be impacted.

 

[chubbycat]

Amtrak Advisory | Freight Railroad Labor Negotiations – Possible Impacts to Select Amtrak Service

For some reason, the Downeaster route to Brunswick, ME will not be impacted.

It seems that Lake Shore and Cardinal will be impacted

 

[jis]

It seems that Lake Shore and Cardinal will be impacted

Of course. Those travel over CSX and the Lake Shore over NS too. The Capitol will also be impacted as will Silver Star, Palmetto and Carolinian.

 

[Sauve850]

Star is cancelled 9/14

 

[jimdex]

Yes, these cancellations were strike-related. They don't want any trains stranded en route when the strike breaks out. As the strike deadline gets closer, other long-distance trains will be suspended.

 

[zephyr17]

According to the news reports, the Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and Empire Builder will be cancelled in both directions starting today to avoid stranding along the routes should the strike happen.
I don't find a notice of this on the Amtrak site.

It was buried in @AmtrakAlerts, not in Passenger Advisories.

 

[enviro5609]

Amtrak Advisory | Freight Railroad Labor Negotiations – Possible Impacts to Select Amtrak Service

For some reason, the Downeaster route to Brunswick, ME will not be impacted.

It must run on trackage owned by a short line and not the Class Is.

 

[fritz]

It was buried in @AmtrakAlerts, not in Passenger Advisories.

"SERVICE ADVISORY: California Zephyr Trains 5 and 6, which are scheduled to depart Chicago (CHI) and Emeryville (EMY) on 9/13, are canceled. For reservation assistance, please call 1-800-872-7245.


1:55 PM · Sep 12, 2022·Salesforce - Social Studio"
I wish there was more officially, but this just announces 9/13 cancellation, does not refer to anything thereafter. I have a Zephyr ticket for 9/16. Planning on no train at this point, but I sure wish there would be at least an indication of more cancellations. The above came out just after noon yesterday, so I'm expecting the next day's post shortly.

 

[user 31218]

It must run on trackage owned by a short line and not the Class Is.

The Downeaster runs on tracks that were owned by Pan Am Railways, a large regional Class 2 that CSX acquired just recently.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

"SERVICE ADVISORY: California Zephyr Trains 5 and 6, which are scheduled to depart Chicago (CHI) and Emeryville (EMY) on 9/13, are canceled. For reservation assistance, please call 1-800-872-7245.


1:55 PM · Sep 12, 2022·Salesforce - Social Studio"
I wish there was more officially, but this just announces 9/13 cancellation, does not refer to anything thereafter. I have a Zephyr ticket for 9/16. Planning on no train at this point, but I sure wish there would be at least an indication of more cancellations. The above came out just after noon yesterday, so I'm expecting the next day's post shortly.

They’re taking it day by day because the unions & railroads may, or may not, come to an agreement before Friday.

 

[hecanjog]

My trip from WIN to MKE on the 16th via the empire builder was just cancelled this morning.

 

[JoshP]

Silver Star trains starting to cancel as of tomorrow so looks like east coast is starting to start the affection.

 

[pennyk]

From RPA this afternoon:

RAIL PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON POTENTIAL RAIL SHUTDOWN​

WASHINGTON -- Rail Passengers Association has been telling our supporters about the potential for a rail shutdown over the past few months. The cooldown period mandated by the Presidential Emergency Board ends at midnight on September 16th and, with negotiations still ongoing, the nation is beginning to consider the very real potential that tens of thousands of rail workers may go on strike this weekend.

While President Biden’s Administration and the U.S. Congress are actively engaged in mediating the dispute—which centers on working conditions more than pay—it is important for passenger to understand how it may affect rail operations.

“We are tracking these negotiations with great interest because, while they center on the relationship between rail workers and the freight railroads, there is simply no way to disentangle the passenger and freight operations of this network,” said Jim Mathews, President of the Rail Passenger Association. “As the Association of American Railroads stated last week, freight railroads own ‘nearly 97% of the tracks on Amtrak’s nearly 22,000-mile system.’ If negotiations fail, America’s passenger trains will cease operations outside the Northeast Corridor. Therefore, we are calling on both freight railroads and rail labor organizations to continue to negotiate in good faith; the U.S. rail network is too important to America’s citizens to allow for an extended shutdown of the system. However, it is essential that the negotiations produce a collective bargaining agreement that allows for freight trains to run safely and on-time. If that means spending more on operations and less on stock buybacks, then that is what needs to happen.

“We also encourage Amtrak to communicate clearly with any passenger whose trip may be affected,” continued Mathews. “We understand that, out of an abundance of caution, Amtrak has already started suspending service for certain long-distance trains with multi-day schedules in order not to strand passengers, workers, or equipment; that is the smart—and passenger-focused—way to handle this potential disruption. And while these circumstances are outside of Amtrak's control, we're asking them to ensure that passengers whose travel is disrupted are reimbursed, and that they receive relevant information in a timely fashion.”

 

[Amtrak25]

I especially like this part: "If that means spending more on operations and less on stock buybacks, then that is what needs to happen."

 

[zephyr17]

I checked out Amtrak.com to look at cancellations.

As of 12 pm PT
ALL long distance train departures are cancelled for Wednesday 9/14, except the Capitol Limited and the westbound Cardinal. Those exceptions seem strange.

NO long distance train departures are cancelled for Thursday, 9/15.

 

[Railmonkey]

Scheduled to depart 9/27 on the SWC from LAX. Just booked a back up flight that I really hope I don't have to use. From what I hear Friday is the day we will know if a strike if authorized.

 

[thully]

I checked out Amtrak.com to look at cancellations.

As of 12 pm PT
ALL long distance train departures are cancelled for Wednesday 9/14, except the Capitol Limited and the westbound Cardinal. Those exceptions seem strange.

NO long distance train departures are cancelled for Thursday, 9/15.

I think it may be because those trains arrive early enough that being delayed into Friday is less of a concern, and running just those wouldn’t cause an equipment imbalance (as running westbound but not eastbound two-night trains from Chicago would do).

 

[zephyr17]

Well, the CONO is cancelled and that gets into NOL in the early afternoon like the Cap into WAS, and gets into CHI at like 8:30 am.

So running the Cap still looks odd to me. Running the Card westbound makes more sense, because it is triweekly and otherwise equipment would be out of position, and, as you point out, it arrives early enough (10:30 CT, IIRC) that getting delayed enough to go past 12:01 am is very unlikely.

That brings up another thought. I just realized the strike deadline is likely 12:01 am Eastern Time. It could be that CONO's early afternoon arrival is closer to an 11:01 pm CT deadline than the Cap's is and that hour's difference makes it too close for comfort.

 

[Amtrak25]

I suppose between the Cardinal and the Capitol, even with their tiny consists, they can do without the Lake Shore. I suppose OBS crews will get flown home on Friday.

 

[MARC Rider]

I went to the Amtrak app this morning (9/13) to get a ticket for my trip to Washington tomorrow, and they were still selling tickets for the Cardinal. I could have gotten a room for $167 for a 40 minute ride. Maybe I should have, because I do need to rack up some TQP if I expect to make Select Plus this year. I actually reserved for the Palmetto, which had more "reasonable" prices for coach and business class, and which is "90% full." This is for a ~9:30 AM arrival into Washington.

 

[joelkfla]

It was buried in @AmtrakAlerts, not in Passenger Advisories.

IMHO, those Twitter alerts are virtually useless when trying to find the status of a particular train. It's near to impossible to find what you're looking for by wading through the jumble of information.

They really ought to find a better way to communicate this info, something that is easily searchable or filterable.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

The alert is now on the “front page” of their website.